Detroit Tigers Ongoing 2013 Thread

[gvsulaker82]

The good news is that the tigers organization can pinpoint the problem in june so hopefully they can fix it come trade deadline. Valverde needs to be flat out released. There are many pitchers I would rather see the tigers close with, really anyone but valverde and coke. A closer doesn't allow a home run per inning. Any option is better than valverde so not sure why JL is being such a tool about this. It still irks me his comment the other day when valverde got the save but still allowed two home runs and JL was satisfied with that performance. Pathetic.

 

[gvsulaker82]

I'm not sure I would trade castellanos for a good closer but if their minor league system is completely empty beyond him I'm not sure they have a choice. They are at the point where they need to go for it all and sacrificing prospects to insure they win the world series and have a deep bullpen is important. The good news is that they can be patient and assess the situation as the season progresses especially considering they play in the weakest division.

 

[Howie115]

It still irks me his comment the other day when valverde got the save but still allowed two home runs and JL was satisfied with that performance. Pathetic.

That game was actually a non-save situation, but I get your point.

 

[Iffster]

It still irks me his comment the other day when valverde got the save but still allowed two home runs and JL was satisfied with that performance. Pathetic.

Leyland's choices at the time some reporter asked him the question about Valverde's performance:
A. Say what he said
B. Call Valverde a bum
C. Say nothing or somehow avoid giving an answer.

If you believe that B is what he should have done....then managing is probably not a good job choice for you. If you selected C...then perhaps a job in public relations might be your future.

Since 'most' of us realize that uttering choice C is not a good option and saying "no comment" or "next question" is just about as bad. I would say a semi non-committal answer like the one he gave (suggestion - to me - that the team win was satisfying, as opposed to the alternative) was acceptable. Maybe not the best answer, but acceptable.

Managers who start to throw their players under the bus, tend to not last long. Many see it as part of a manager's job to protect his players from the media.

 

[Howie115]

Jackson up, Garcia down. Don Kelly lives to play another day in the majors.

June 14, 2013 12:56 pm

Avisail Garcia sent to the minors

by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com

The Tigers have sent outfielder Avisail Garcia to the minors to make room for Austin Jackson.
Garcia has been with the major-league club since mid May, and performed fairly well. In 66 at-bats, Garcia hit .288/.324/.455. He'll be able to play every day in the minors.

 

[Iffster]

Jim Leyland asks: 'Who the (expletive) should I close with?' - CBSSports.com

I just now that Leyland will take flack from his remarks about 'who closes'. I have already read some elsewhere. The way his statement reads, almost invites the Monday morning quarterbacks to spit out some knee-jerk answer to his statement.

Sadly, these short-sighted remarks from fans will most often come from the same ones who make declarative statements like...."if I was him I'd tell Leyland to kiss my ass." Or "someone should use a rifle on that coach".

Leyland is frustrated. I don't agree with how he used Valverde the last time....but he was given Valverde in order to be used as the team's closer. Does he have other options? He has been forced to find them now.....but up to that point, he used Valverde in the roll assigned to him. Sure, JL was slammed for his choices by many....but, for all we know, maybe he felt it was his only option!

(It will never cease to amaze me how fans of any sport will scream and yell when a manager/coach makes a move that does not work out....but quickly accept any move that works, often giving the player 100% of the credit.) America - the land of 'Finding a Scapegoat'!

 

[Iffster]

I have to agree with the Garcia move....too much talent there to be sitting on the bench 3 games out of 5. Give him regular at bats for a month in Toledo...see, if then, he could replace a starter in Tigers' lineup. (Thinking VMart myself).

Now let's wait for the remarks (stale) about Kelly being Leyland's son or butt-buddy or having naked photos. Ohhhh....the originality.

 

[Howie115]

I for one do not blame Leyland for using Valverde as a closer to this point. The team went into a "World Series or Bust" season relying on an unproven rookie (Rondon) to close games, with no backup plan. That's on Dave Dombrowski. Valverde has been Leyland's best option so far this season.

That said, I DO criticize Leyland for using Valverde in the non-save situation last Friday vs. Cleveland, because: (1) Valverde had pitched the night before, so it's not like he needed work, (2) Valverde has proven, by the numbers, to be horrible in non-save situations, and (3) it possibly makes your closer unavailable if a save situation arises in subsequent games. Indeed, after Valverde saved Saturday's game, giving him three straight games pitched (the middle game being unneccessary, IMO), Leyland had to use Benoit to close the game in a save situation on Sunday.

 

[broncosmitty]

Glad Garcia won't be manning center anymore. The bullpen isn't good, but that kid got a loss the other day too. (Outfielders don't have W/L's but it was solely on him)

 

[Howie115]

I have to agree with the Garcia move....too much talent there to be sitting on the bench 3 games out of 5.

I actually agree with the Garcia move, too. Give him all the ABs you can right now, and we'll see him in September and hopefully in 2014.

 

[burfboy]

Good move to give Garcia more AB in Toledo.....only be good for him, he hit the ball much better this season, more power than last.......if there are more injuries he will be even more ready....sometime you have to think outside the box, "closer" is not carved in stone.....try something different or try again......is Rondon better now than at the stat of the season? #s in Toledo would say so.......Lefty Hoffman is having good #s in Toledo.....could he be better than Coke?....there is time to make some moves in house......

 

[Spartan1Nation]

Leyland's choices at the time some reporter asked him the question about Valverde's performance:
A. Say what he said
B. Call Valverde a bum
C. Say nothing or somehow avoid giving an answer.

If you believe that B is what he should have done....then managing is probably not a good job choice for you. If you selected C...then perhaps a job in public relations might be your future.

Since 'most' of us realize that uttering choice C is not a good option and saying "no comment" or "next question" is just about as bad. I would say a semi non-committal answer like the one he gave (suggestion - to me - that the team win was satisfying, as opposed to the alternative) was acceptable. Maybe not the best answer, but acceptable.

Managers who start to throw their players under the bus, tend to not last long. Many see it as part of a manager's job to protect his players from the media.

I would have no problem throwing Valturde under a bus... Or a train... Or a cement truck

 

[Howie115]

I read a longer Yahoo article on the Leyland "Who the &^$%@! do you want to close?" rant, and some scout was quoted as saying Valverde's stuff is "flat as Kansas." That one had me ROTFLMAO!

 

[Iffster]

Looking back...Valverde was a long shot that, at the time, was worth a gamble. Got him for cash only - did not cost a player. If anyone thought he was going to repeat 2011...they were not being realistic. I saw it as perhaps being a stop gap measure until something else could be done. He did save 9 games, even though he cost the team several. "Hey, they took a shot." Next?

Just a thought for muzz....I was wondering if being a closer is something Smyly is, personality-wise, not cut out for? I have no way of knowing, one way or the other. Just spitballing.

 

[Spartan1Nation]

I read a longer Yahoo article on the Leyland "Who the &^$%@! do you want to close?" rant, and some scout was quoted as saying Valverde's stuff is "flat as Kansas." That one had me ROTFLMAO!

Valverde blows and JL is right... Who else should he put in to close though? Its not like any of the other guys could be trusted as the closer... Benoit gives up to many meatballs when he closes.. Heck might as well try Smyly... Can't do any worse i guess

 

[Howie115]

Yeah, we sure beat up Benoit last season when he was in that stretch giving up about 1.5 homers per game. Now Valverde has given up 5 HR in his last 5-2/3 innings. Slim pickins out there in the 'pen.

 

[themuzzer]

I've been wanting Smyly to get a shot for sometime now. He can't be worse then what weve already seen.

 

[jdwills126]

IMO I would have rather taken a chance on Garcia than Rondon as a starter this season. The 14 million Hunter signed for could have been spent elsewhere. Don't get me wrong I like Hunter and think he is doing a great job but Garcia had a track record where Rondon hadn't.

The Tigers OF is a very crowded place especially when you factor Castallanos in the mix.

 

[adrian2]

 

[burfboy]

8:10pm Tigers (R. Porcello - R) @ Twins (S. Diamond - L)</SPAN>

Gametime Forecast: 75°F • Mostly Cloudy • 22%PoP​

1. Austin Jackson (R) CF
2. Torii Hunter (R) RF
3. Miguel Cabrera (R) 3B
4. Prince Fielder (L) 1B
5. Victor Martinez (S) DH
6. Jhonny Peralta (R) SS
7. Matt Tuiasosopo (R) LF
8. Omar Infante (R) 2B
9. Alex Avila (L) C

1. Jamey Carroll (R) 3B
2. Joe Mauer (L) C
3. Ryan Doumit (S) RF
4. Josh Willingham (R) DH
5. Justin Morneau (L) 1B
6. Oswaldo Arcia (L) LF
7. Clete Thomas (L) CF
8. Brian Dozier (R) 2B
9. Pedro Florimon (S) SS